What New Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) Sellers Need to Know, Lessons From a First-Year Store Owner

What does it really look like to start a Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) store from scratch when you didn’t even know TPT existed a month earlier?

In this episode of the Teacher Business School podcast, Lindsay sits down with Cherene Chan, a Teacher Resource Academy student from the UK, to talk about her journey from online ESL teaching and major health challenges to opening a Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) store, making consistent sales, and earning her first five-star reviews.

Cherene shares what surprised her most about selling on Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT), how long it took to make her first sale, what finally helped her gain traction, and the mindset shifts that made the biggest difference. This conversation is especially encouraging for newer sellers, international teachers, and anyone feeling overwhelmed at the beginning.

Key Discussion Points:

[00:00:41] Meet Cherene and Her Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) Journey

How Cherene went from never hearing about Teachers Pay Teachers to opening her own store after finding a free Instagram workshop.

[00:02:21] Teaching Online and Navigating Health Challenges

Cherene shares her background teaching ESL online, earning TEFL certifications, and rebuilding momentum after major jaw surgery.

[00:04:22] Discovering the Three-Day Board Game Challenge

What caught Cherene’s attention about the free workshop, why she almost didn’t sign up, and how creating her first resource sparked everything.

[00:06:01] Opening Her Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) Store and Making the First Sale

How long it took Cherene to open her store, when her first sale came in, and why earning $1.60 felt so meaningful.

[00:08:41] What the Early Days of Selling Really Felt Like

The overwhelm, self-doubt, and steep learning curve that came with learning PowerPoint, Canva, and the business side of Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT).

[00:11:01] Choosing a Niche and Creating ESL Grammar Resources

Why Cherene focuses on ESL grammar, lesson slides, and editable worksheets, and how product lines help her work faster.

[00:13:21] Selling on Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) as a UK-Based Seller

How Cherene adapts her resources for American English, creates US holiday products, and turns being international into an advantage.

[00:15:21] Hitting 50+ Sales as a New Seller

What it felt like to pass the 50-sale milestone and why tracking progress kept her motivated.

[00:16:41] Receiving Her First Five-Star Review

The emotional moment Cherene realized she had earned a five-star review and why that validation meant so much.

[00:19:21] Why Training and Support Matter

Cherene explains why she believes trying to figure out Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) alone would have led to quitting early.

[00:21:41] How Resource Creation Gets Faster Over Time

From seven hours to three minutes, how repetition, templates, and experience changed everything.

[00:24:01] The Importance of Covers, Thumbnails, and Previews

What finally helped Cherene improve page views and sales after reworking her covers and previews months later.

[00:26:41] Advice for New and Overwhelmed Sellers

Cherene’s most important advice for beginners who want to succeed on Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) without burning out.

Cherene's Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) Link:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/learn-with-chezi

Connect further:

1. Sell Education Workbooks with Amazon KDP: https://lindsaybowden.com/KDP